Dental matrix retainer



Feb. 28, 1928. 1,661,068

M. w. GAILLARD DENTAL MATRIX RETAINER Filed March 1927 J .6 l W m 2 .30 39 INVENTOR. M61011 11nd In {Mum/M1. m

Patented Feb. 28, 1928,

UNITED STATES MADTSON WILSON GAILLARD, OF MOBILE, ALABAMA.

DENTAL MATRIX RErAInEn.

Applicationfiled March a, 1927i serial in. 173,699,

The prcsentvinvention relates to dental instruments and more particularly to a device for use 1n clamping a matrix band against the side of a tooth for closing a laterally I opening cavity during the filling of atooth. An object of the present invention s to provide a dental matrix retainer which may three fingers of one hand so that the other hand is left free, instead of requiring the use of both hands inthe adjustment of such in struments, as is now known to the art and used in practice.

Another object of the invention is to 5m videfa relativelyshort and compact instrument \vhich'occupies but small space 1n the mouth,and whichhasno projecting parts to come into contact with the cheek, andwhich may be easily and quickly adjusted in positiohahd removed byone hand. f

The invention also aims to provide aninstrumentof this character which has adjustable 1 and removable jaws capable of auto matically adapting themselves to different angles and relative positions to meet the varying conditions ofteeth, and which are interchangeable with spacing jaws, so that the instrument may be used not onlyas a matrixretainer, but also as a spacer when.

itis desired toucleanandpolish teeth without injury to gums and by the introduction of apolishing element between the teeth.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, [the invention will be 9 more fully described hereinafteryand"will'be more par ticularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto:

In the drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like or corresponding parts through 40 out the' severalviews, i

position as applied to the teeth;

Figure 2, is, a longitudinal section taken through the instrument on the] line 25-2 of:

Figure 4 is a detail plan view of a matrix band employed;

Figure'5 is a detail perspective view of thepair'of matrix retainer jaws shown-in Figures 1, 2 and 3; I

Figure 1 isan enlarged planview ofa dental matrlx container, constructed according to the present IIIVBIltlOIl, and shown in the teeth on FigureG is a similar view of anlodified form of the pair of matrix retainer jaws,

Figure 7 is a like view of a further modified form or aws, used as separators for engagement betweenad acent teeth, and which "may, be substituted for thejaws of Figure be positioned and adjusted by the use of r 5; and, a a

Figure 8 isa like view of a further modified :form of jaws, used as separators and which may be substituted for the jaws of Figure 5.,

which may be substituted in the instrument v for the aws of Flgure 5;

Referring to the-drawing, the instrument comprises apair of arms 10 and 11, which have inner end portions 10 and 11* bent toward each other and overlapped, and are pivotally connected together by a screw 12 or the like. The; arms 10 and 11. arelrelaltively short and; are swung toward and from a each other to open and close the instrument by aifinger-operated jdevice located between the arms and adjacent to the inner ends thereof, The finger-operateddevice comprises aiknurled wheel 13,. fixed upon a transversestem 14 having its opposite ends threaded in opposite directionsfor engaging thro ugh round studs15. which are mounted to turn in brackets 16, secured upon the arms-10 and 11. It will be noted that one ofthe brackets 16 may be spaced a greater distance from the innerend of its arm 10, than is the location of the opposite bracket 16 on its arm 11. This disposes the wheel 13.at:a suitable angle between the arms 10. and 11 foreasy access and operation by the finger of the hand which supports and holds "the instrument by engaging the outer; edges of the arms, 10 and 11 with two adjacent fingers.

On the free end of eacharm of the instrument is mounted a cylindrical socket 17 wh ch is secured to the arm in any suitable mannerwith its axis extended lengthwise of thearm. Each socket17 is provided at its inner side with alongitudinal slot 18 which opens entirely through the outer end vided with a: ,air of removable jaws 19 and 20 which;, as .r own particularly in Figure 5,

Each shank slide freely'an-d longitudinally in the socket of the socket 17. The instrument is pro- 1 17, and the round shank 21 is of suificient length'to space'its jaw from the outer side the jaw substantially in the same plane of the instrument. V

For holding the jaws 19 and 20 in adjusted positions in the sockets 17, each socket is internally threaded at its outer open end, and provided with a set screw 23 having a knurled head 24 on its outer end, by means of which the said screw may be turned up against the ball head 22 for binding the lat ter in the socket.

From Figure 5 particularly, it will be noted that the protuberance 25 of the jaw 19 is of greater length than the protuberance 26 of the jaw 20. This construction permits the utilization of the jaw 20 as an abutment adapted to engage against one side of the teeth, while the jaw 19 is permitted to wedge into and partially enter the space between the teeth at the opposite side thereof, and

without interference from the protuberence 26 of the anchoring or abutment jaw 20. The jaw 19 is therefore an entering jaw, while the jaw 20 constitutes the abutment against which the pressure of the instru ment is taken up.

A matrix band 27 is used in conjunction with the instrument and is relatively thin and flexible, and is adapted to be inserted between the teeth across the open side of the cavity 28, as shown in Figure 1, and against which the jaws 19 and 20 are adapted to .work in order to conform and bind the matrix band 27 with respect to the tooth having the cavity 28 therein.

In Figure 6 a modified form of matrixretainer jaw 29 is disclosed. Each jaw 29 is of substantially cylindricalvform and adapted to be used in position with its axis disposed vertically. The inner side of the jaw is oppositely beveled to provide an entering wedge portion 30 for engagement between the teeth and against-the band 27. The aws 29 are provided with relatively shortprotuberances 31 for entering between the teeth inadvance of the wedges 30. In other respects the jaws 29 are similar to the jaws 19 and 20, so that they may be substituted therefor when desired.

The instrument is also capable for use as a separator to spread apart adjacent teeth and to. effect this spreading apart either at the chewing surfaces of the teeth, or by exerting a spreading force between the teeth near thegum line.

In Figure 7 is shown a pair of separators which are'provided with forked wedge portions 33 adapted to "enter between the teeth.

ed oppositely at its The upper portions 32 rest upon chewing surfaces of the teeth and prevent wedge portions 33 from sliding down toward gums, thereby closing or obstructing gum margin of filling which is to be polished.

In Figure 8 the jaws are relatively flat and provided with single elongated protuberances 35 adapted to enter deeply into the spaces between the teeth so as to separate same and allow unobstructed access to portion of tooth or filling near chewing surface.

In the use of all of the jaws, the instrument is applied to the teeth in substantially the same manner as it may be held between the thumb and second finger, while the first or index finger naturally rests upon the knurled wheel 13, so that the latter may be turned in either direction for opening or closing the instrument,as is found necessary in its-application, adjustment and removal. The instrument is short .and compact and, may be applied in either side of the mouth and to either thc upper or lower teeth. The structure of the ball head 22 and its elongated shank 21 admits of the automatic setting or adjustment of the different jaws to the inequalities of the spaces in the teeth, so that the jaws may exert equal pressure against the opposite sides ofthe opposite teeth to which they are applied. i

It will be obvious thatmanychanges in the construction, combination and arrange. ment of parts could be made, which could be used without departing from the spiritof my invention, and I do not mean to limitthe invention to such details, except as particularly pointed out in the claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure'by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. A dental matrix retainer comprising a pair of arms pivotally connected together at one end, adjusting means connectedto the arms and disposed between the same intermediate their ends, a cylindrical socket mounted on the free end of each arm and' arranged co-axially therewith, said socket havingan elongated slot at its inner side, a jaw for each socket, each jaw having an elongated shank adapted for movement lengthwise of the slot and to turn therein, and a ball head on the inner end of each shank adapted to slide and turn in said socket with the movement of the shank, said ball-heads adapted to support the jaws from the sockets, and means to retain the ballheads in the sockets.

2. A dental matrix retainer comprising a pair of arms pivotally connected at one end, brackets on the arms, a rotatable pin mounted in each bracket, the bracket and connected pin of one arm being further from the pivotal connection of the arms than the opposite bracket and connected pin, a stem threadends for engaging in said pins, a wheel fixed upon the intermediate portion of the stem for turning the same to adjust the arms toward and from each other at their free ends, sockets mounted on the free ends of the arms, and jaws adjustably mounted in the sockets. j

3. A dental matrix retainer comprising a pair of arms pivotally connected at one end, finger-operated adjusting means connecting the arms intermediate their ends, a cylin drical socket disposed axially on the free end of each arm, ajaw for each socket, each jaw having an elongated shank and a ball head on the end of the shank, said sockets being open at their outer ends and having slots at their inner sides also opening through their outer ends, said shanks adapt ed to engage in said slots and said ball heads adapted to fit in said sockets, and clamping screws threaded in the outer ends of said sockets for binding against said heads to secure the jaws in adjusted position. i

4. A dental matrix retainer comprising a. pair of relatively movable arms, adjusting means for the arms, a pair of jaws, and means carried by the arms whereby said jaws are supported for longitudinal movement relatively to the arms and for pivotal movement at any point of such longitudinal adjustment.

5. A dental matrix retainer comprising a pair of relatively adjustable supporting arms, hollow slotted sockets carried by said arms, heads rotatably fitted in said sockets, means to retain the heads in the sockets, shanks projecting from the heads throu h the slots in the sockets, and jaws carried y said shanks spaced from the sockets.

MADISON WILSON GAILLARD. 

